Walks near Buttermere
6 routes, from 2 easy, 1 moderate and 3 hard. Each has a route map, the climb worked out from the line, parking, dog and stile notes, and a GPX to download. For things to do, food and where to stay, see our Buttermere guide.
Buttermere lake circuit
Easy, 8.8 km, 122 m up, about 2 hours
A level walk all the way round Buttermere, with a lakeshore tunnel, a beach at the head of the lake and the High Stile ridge towering above.
Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag from Buttermere
Hard, 14.1 km, 839 m up, about 4 hours
One of Lakeland's great ridge walks: up past Bleaberry Tarn to Red Pike, along the crags to High Stile and High Crag, then down Gamlin End to Scarth Gap and the lake.
Rannerdale Knotts and the bluebell valley
Moderate, 5.3 km, 356 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
A small fell with a big view over Crummock Water, climbed via Rannerdale, the valley famous for its May carpet of bluebells.
Haystacks from Gatesgarth
Hard, 7.7 km, 529 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
A small fell with a big character: from Gatesgarth over Scarth Gap to the craggy top of Haystacks, past Innominate Tarn and down Warnscale.
Loweswater and Holme Wood from Maggie's Bridge
Easy, 3.8 km, 5 m up, about 1 hour
A level, fully accessible walk along the quiet south shore of Loweswater into the oaks of Holme Wood. A Miles without Stiles route for all.
Great Gable from Honister via Moses' Trod
Hard, 9.7 km, 822 m up, about 3 hours 30 minutes
A big-mountain day from a high start: out along the old smugglers' track of Moses' Trod to Beck Head, up Great Gable, and home over Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts.